Diphtheria outbreak detected in Thanh Hoa

The two patients were identified as a 10-year-old child and a 74-year-old woman, who are living in an outbreak in Muong Lat town.

Both of the patients are relatives of a pregnant woman who had previously been infected with diphtheria.

According to details provided by epidemiological investigations, after showing symptoms of a sore throat, the woman went to a clinic to undergo a checkup. Upon arrival she was subsequently advised to go to Muong Lat District General Hospital where she tested positive for diphtheria.

Following this, 23 close contacts of the patient were swiftly isolated by health authorities, with two of them detected to have been infected with the disease.

Diphtheria is an acute infectious disease caused by a bacterium which primarily affects the upper respiratory tract, although it does sometimes impact the skin. It can spread from person to person when the infected individual coughs or sneezes. It is a vaccine-preventable disease, but multiple doses and booster doses are needed in order to produce and sustain immunity.

Whilst some will develop mild versions of the disease, in the case of severe disease, complications and death can also occur. Death can occur within six to 10 days without proper treatment. It is classified as a dangerous infectious disease due to its high mortality rate.